Meet Maryann Marselles

We were lucky to catch up with Maryann Marselles recently and have shared our conversation below.

Hi Maryann, so happy you were able to devote some time to sharing your thoughts and wisdom with our community. So, we’ve always admired how you have seemingly never let nay-sayers or haters keep you down. Can you talk to us about how to persist despite the negative energy that so often is thrown at folks trying to do something special with their lives?

I have encountered many people who have said “you’ll never make it,” or “Why can’t you get a “real” job?” I’ve had people worried I’m not making enough money and act like I’m not worthy because I don’t have a regular high-paying 9-5 job. I just know that this is my calling, the life of an artist isn’t for everyone but I’m making strides and improvements on myself and my craft consistently. I’m not going to stop pursuing my dreams just because of a few negative people. This is where I’m supposed to be and I have the confidence in myself and the commitment to succeed.

Appreciate the insights and wisdom. Before we dig deeper and ask you about the skills that matter and more, maybe you can tell our readers about yourself?

I’m an actor, filmmaker and creator. The most rewarding aspect of being an artist and creative for me is getting to make a living expressing myself and doing what I love to do. I’m able to create a character who’s a completely different person from myself, while at the same time having aspects of myself expressed in that character as well. I’m able to put myself into my work and have the freedom to express myself that I don’t think I would have in a lot of other careers. I’m able to have a purpose for myself in knowing that entertainment is a powerful distraction and form of escapism for many people. I am proud to be a part of a community where everyone is blessed to be able to use their unique talents to make a living.

There is so much advice out there about all the different skills and qualities folks need to develop in order to succeed in today’s highly competitive environment and often it can feel overwhelming. So, if we had to break it down to just the three that matter most, which three skills or qualities would you focus on?

I think that knowing myself, learning about the industry, and figuring out where I fit in the industry were the most impactful on my journey. I feel that to be an actor- to truly be able to portray another person- you first need to really know yourself and how you can bring yourself to a character. No one else out there is like me, and so I need to bring my own uniqueness to every role I play. For anyone who’s familiar with the acting world, it’s knowing what your “type” is- that’s the simple way to put it- and then branching out from there. My advice for folks who are early in their acting journey is to first know what you bring to the table. You are enough, you are great just the way you are. So many people I’ve found out think that they have to put on a character or change themselves in some way in order to be successful. You being yourself and knowing yourself is the key to success and finding your “niche” in the industry.

Before we go, any advice you can share with people who are feeling overwhelmed?

When I feel overwhelmed, I make sure to slow down and take time for myself. A lot of people feel pressure to just keep going all the time, but I’ve learned on multiple occasions that it’s important to stop, relax and assess what it is that I need. Sometimes what I need is a day where I basically do nothing all day. Sometimes I need a hot cup of tea or a favorite snack, or to curl up with a favorite book. Everyone has things that relax them, and my advice is to find out what keeps you grounded and make that your go-to for when you’re feeling very overwhelmed. It’s ok to take time for self-care and to make sure you have what you need, both emotionally and physically.

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Nogen Beck

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